Patent GB-411262-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in game apparatus
IPC: G07F17/34
Filed: 1933-03-25
Abstract: 411,262. Coin-freed amusement apparatns. DEHN, F. B., 103, Kingsway, London.- (Mills Novelty Co. ; 4100, Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, U.S.A.) March 25, 1933, No. 2090. [Class 27.] Games played with moving figures.- Apparatus of the kind in which moving elements such as spinning reels are adapted to be stopped in non- uniform positions is characterised in that the position of player pieces on a field is determined by the positions in which the moving elements have stopped. As shown, a machine of the kind in which legend-bearing reels 64, 65, 66, Fig. 1, are set spinning by the actuation of a handle 74 after the insertion of a coin, and are adapted to be stopped selectively by the player by the depression of buttons 165, is provided with a representation of a baseball field visible through a panel 46, players pieces being caused to move round this field to degrees dependent upon the stopping positions of the reels, as determined by the skill of the player. The field, shown in rear view in Fig. 26, comprises plates 234, 235 separated by an annular space 236 through which project player pieces carried by arms 248-251 which are frictionally mounted on a shaft 239 ; this shaft is rotated by clockwork, Fig. 20, which is wound up by the depression of a slide 263 when the machine is initially actuated. There are six score-producing stopping positions of the reels, and if one of these is attained, slides 171-176, Fig. 8, are caused to move to the right in known manner, the lowest score corresponding to the movement of lowest slide 171 only, the next highest to the movement of slides 171 and 172, and so on, the highest score corresponding to the movement of all six slides. A spring-urged slide 287 carries steps 288 which abut against slides 171-176, and the degree to which this slide moves depends upon the number of the slides 171-176 which have moved. Slide 287, through fork 284, controls the position of a pivoted arm 279, Figs. 8 and 24, which is formed with steps 282 adapted to engage a pin 283 on slide 263, Fig. 20. A replica 298 of stepped arm 279, Fig. 24, is mounted thereon and capable of a limited vertical sliding movement, this arm 298 carrying a projection 323 adapted to operate arms 309,311, Fig. 26, for locking player pieces at first, second and third bases through linkwork 321, 325, 324, 318, 315, Fig. 20. The initial actuation of the machine lowers slide 263, Fig. 20, to wind the clockwork and resets slides 171- 176, Fig. 8, thus moving arm 279 forward through agency of slide 287, and causing the lowest step thereon to engage pin 283 and hold slide 263 down. At the same time an escapement 342, 339, Fig. 26, releases the first of the player pieces at the home base for subsequent movement if necessary. If the reels are stopped in a favourable. position, arm 279 is moved over to a degree corresponding with the number of the slides 171-176 released, and slide 263 is allowed to move up a corresponding degree before pin 283 again engages one of the steps 282. Before this step is reached, pin 283 engages the corresponding step on arm 298 and thus by lifting projection 323, locks the player piece at the particular base it has reached. The retraction of the first, the first two, and the first three of the slides 171-176 correspond respectively to one, two, and three base hits, and the freed player piece moves accordingly ; the retraction of the first four or five slides, or all six, all correspond to a home run, but carry different scores, as subsequently described. Indicators.-An indicator wheel 357, Fig. 19, is moved through ratchet mechanism by an arm 373 to indicate the score attained, the arm 373 being linked to a stepped arm 368 which rests on an arm 362 connected to slide 287, Fig. 8, and falls to a degree determined by the degree of motion of this slide. Each of the six favourable stopping positions of the reels corresponds with a score which is thus indicated; the position corresponding with a three-base hit, for example, carrying a score of 8, and the indicator wheel being accordingly moved through an angle corresponding with 8 teeth of the ratchet wheel 358. Means are provided whereby a coin must be inserted to operate the machine only when the wheel 357 is at zero position, and further means are provided whereby the wheel 357 is stepped back one tooth for every unsuccessful actuation, the result being that a player who scores for example 8 is given a corresponding number of free actuations. At the next actuation, the escapement shown in Fig. 26 releases the next player piece. At the end of the play the proprietor resets the apparatus for the next user. An additional indicator may be provided to show the total score attained, and a manually operated indicator may be provided for the player. Coin action, mechcanical-connection.-A coin inserted in shoot 57, Fig. 7, acts as an abutment for a projection 105 on a pivoted arm 103, which holds a shoulder 107 on an arm 98 clear of an abutment 106 on an arm 77 actuated by the handle 74, Fig. 1. When a successful actuation moves the indicator wheel 357, Fig. 19, from its zero position, a stop 402 thereon disengages a catch 398, Fig. 7, which holds back the arm 103 and permits the free actuation referred to above. Delivery of articles stored in piles.-A mint roll 48, Fig. 1, is delivered to the player on the first actuation after inserting a coin. The rolls are stored in four compartments from which they are delivered in turn by successive quarterrevolutions of connected recessed rollers 431, Fig. 28, actuated by a handwheel 432, Fig. 1, and freed for a quarter-revolution by the escapement shown in Fig. 30. Returning coin.-A pivoted arm 454, Fig. 28, engaged by the rolls 48 is freed when the container is empty and operates to deflect an inserted coin into a return shoot.